You know it, and here's a decent article on it claiming these are the best two fighters in the whole group:

Quote:

So much for waiting until the finale to see the best fighters on any given "The Ultimate Fighter" season face off against each other.

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, one of two coaches on this year’s “TUF: Live”, has nixed that arrangement. Cruz has taken a unique approach to matchmaking since gaining control of the fight picks two weeks ago on the UFC’s bi-annual reality show.

He’s choosing some of the best fighters on his team to compete but not giving them easy matchups. Cruz is challenging his pupils by pairing them against the top competition on rival Urijah Faber’s team early in the tournament.

That’s the explanation for this week’s matchup between Team Cruz’s Myles Jury (9-0) and Team Faber’s Al Iaquinta (5-1), a fight that will air at 10 on FX Friday night.

Jury is seen as one of the favorites to win the 15th season of the show, but Iaquinta was Faber’s first pick. In an unusual twist, both Iaquinta and Jury were selected as contestants on previous “TUF” seasons before injuries took them out.

“I had made it on to season 12 but fractured my hand two weeks before they started filming in training,” Iaquinta explained at the “TUF Live” media day. “It’s a second chance, and this is a bigger opportunity with it being live and everything. I’ve got to make the most of it.”

Jury was actually around when cameras began rolling on the set of the 13th season last year. But he tore his ACL within the first week of training and had to go home.

Jury found it tough to watch the season, which Tony Ferguson ultimately won but trusted in a promise UFC President Dana White made to bring him back.

“I stayed focused,” Jury said. “Everything went great. I worked hard to get back on track. I’m even stronger now than I was back then.”

Jury’s first fight since the injury was a one-round “TUF” elimination bout against Akbarh Jimenez three weeks ago. He won by decision. Iaquinta also took a decision victory that night, getting past Jon Tuck.

It’s more than their previous “TUF” stints that make Jury and Iaquinta stand out among the official cast of 16 fighters. Both represent respected gyms.

Jury splits his time at Alliance MMA and The Arena in San Diego, working alongside UFC standouts like Cruz and light heavyweight Phil Davis. Iaquinta, a Long Island, N.Y., native, trains under former UFC champion Matt Serra as part of the Serra-Longo Fight Team.

“I’ve slowly turned myself into more than just a wrestler,” Iaquinta said. “I was a decent wrestler, and now I’m a well-rounded mixed martial artist. My skills now are more tailored to picking apart someone else’s weaknesses than playing to any strength.”

The 23-year old Jury looks like a fighter with few weaknesses, however, as he’s finished all nine professional opponents with five knockouts and four submissions. Noted MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened Jury as a slight favorite at -170 (risking $1.70 to win $1) with Iaquinta coming back at +135 (risking $1 to win $1.35).

“I don’t think anyone here is the favorite,” Jury said. “There are so many variables in this competition and so many tough guys. I feel like this is one of the best casts they’ve had.”

Round 1 - Josh Rosenthal is your referee. Iaquinta moves confidently forward with punches. Jury trying to keep some distance and use a reach advantage. Iaquinta flurries, and Jury just misses on a head kick. Big punches exchanged on the cage, but both fighters seem to be OK. Jury still working kicks in the early going, but Iaquinta blocks most of them. Iaquinta still moving forward, cutting off the cage and landing a few big shots. Jury answering and thinks takedown, but it doesn't come. Jury lands another high kick. Iaquinta is firing back in an entertaining exchanges. Slapping high kick for Jury. He's closing in on the chin Iaquinta still landing with big punches, as well. Iaquinta staggers a bit on an exchange, and Jury shoots in for the takedown. Wild scramble in the end, and the two are a twisted mess on the floor as they try and Jury jumps to the back. He's trying to secure the choke, but it doesn't come. Good opening round, but looks like Jury probably took the frame.

Round 2 - Early shot to the groin, and Iaquinta takes a breather. Jury again with a high kick, but Iaquinta continues to walk forward and box. Jury kicking low and moving while Iaquinta stalks. Jury backfist lands, but he's clipped as he runs in to finish. Incredible back and forth. Jury scrambles away to recover. Iaquinta looks as if he's OK. Iaquinta stalking and kicks to the body. Jury looks like he's just trying to survive. Iaquinta bombing away. Jury moves inside and tries to walk to the back. He wraps his right leg in. Iaquinta turns in and survives. Jury backs away. Iaquinta trying to press in the final minute. Instead, it's Jury with a takedown. Not going to be enough to take the round though. We might be looking at three.

Score is tied, and the fighters head to a third frame for sudden victory.

Round 3 - With a long break between rounds, Jury looks to have some pep back in his step. Doesn't matter, as Iaquinta just swarms. Big flurry to start, and Jury covers up on the cage. Iaquinta lets him off the hook. High kick from Jury, but it's Iaquinta's punches doing the early damage. Iaquinta landing with more frequency. Jury doesn't look rattled, but he needs to pick up the frequency. Jury does land a right hand. Iaquinta stalking. Jury misses a high kick. Final minute. Iaquinta is controlling this round, and he knows it. He's wagging his chin, hanging his arms. Jury pushes hard in the end, but it's not going to be enough. Jury raises his hands, but Team Faber is the squad that is really going crazy outside of the cage. Their exuberance is justified, but just barely.